Summer 2015… and COLLEGE

I move to Columbia in less than a week.
I start rush week (to join a sorority) one week from today.
I start college classes two weeks from today.

It's coming fast. Faster than I expected.
Everyone kept telling me,
the summer will fly by!
Start getting dorm stuff together!
Enjoy your friends!
Spend time with your family!
You'll be gone before you know it!

And whoa, they were so totally right. My dining room has been taking over by things that I'm taking to USC with me. I have spent countless nights with my friends, especially the ones who won't be going to the same school as me. And believe me, I have spent lots and lots of time with family. I mean, we did spend 14 days together 24/7 at the beginning of the summer.

I keep reminding myself of so many things to do. I need to buy this. I have to do this before I go. I really need to go see ___, before I leave.

It's stressful and I haven't even gotten there yet!

But in all seriousness, I'm working on taking it in. The last few days of summer. The last "family dinners" around the coffee table because we never eat at our kitchen table. The last dinner at Red Bowl with my girls. I'm headed to the beach this weekend to spend some time with my grandmama, and just to enjoy my second home.

I'm just trying to savor it, and not let the stressfulness take over.

So with that being said, let me fill you in on the rest of my summer!

First we did the whole Europe thing (casual.. right?).

And let me say that when we finally made it home after our European Adventure, I did a lot of sleeping. A lot.

But I couldn't miss the First Pres Youth Lock-In.
Where you stay up all night.
Three days after I got home.
And I was finally getting my time zones back.
Did I mention we stay up all night?

But this was my last one as a student (they know I'll be back as a leader, they can't get rid of me that easy!)

So here's Taylor, Sarah Nell, Jesslyn, and I working the fancy registration table. And a bunch of adorable, sweet, fun girls who were there.

And at our fun lock-in we went bowling. 

And even though they all made fun of how I bowled, for the record I wasn't last either game…

Second to last but not last!

However, I don't think I'm the next world champion.

The lock-in was really great. And then I came home and slept for like a day and a half. 

And finally, finally my time zones got back in order! 

A few days later I went to the beach for the day with some friends. And took this picture with Taylor.

The wind was something else that day, which is why my hair is all pushed back.

July 4th was spent with the fam + some friends at the lake. It was really good. All I have is this pic of me and the dog playing tug of war.

The next week (we're in like the second week of July now) was my USC orientation!

Orientation is very long, very tiring, very overwhelming but also very important.

I learned a lot of information in like 36 hours. But I made it out!

I also was able to hear all about my specific academic college (Mass Communications college) and made my schedule which I actually really like. 

And I got coffee at the end and life was good. 

Shout Out to Dad for taking me and taking notes and paying attention to the stuff they completely lost me on (ex: bursar's office aka GIVE ME MONEY office).

So what I had to miss out on during orientation (which was two days) was First Pres youth doing summer camp at East Florence Mission. I was able to make it the last day though! It was great, and full of Italian ice, water slides, and other fun things.

And I took this selfie with my friend Tazz.

Also I got completely soaked by the hose while trying to help with the water slide. The culprit was one of my girls who did it accidentally, but then started dying laughing and kept on spraying me till I ran.

I'll admit, spraying Miss Alana was kinda funny.

So then that weekend… I turned the official 18!!!

I was kinda sad because my usual cake bakers weren't able to make me a cake. 

And I didn't want to make one myself. Because that's sad. Dad offered to buy me one, but I said no.

And then at 2 in the afternoon on my birthday, my sweet Abbey called me and said she was coming by my house.

And what does she show up with? A birthday cake for me that she made.

I have the best friends in the world, y'all. 

It was absolutely delicious too. In case you were wondering.

So then the next week, I headed to Hilton Head Island with the First Pres crew for one of my favorite trips of the year.

Fun in the Son!

It's a pretty big Christian conference with a bunch of churches from around the country.

And I love it.

This year meant a lot to me, because it was my senior year. Not that I won't ever go again as a leader (COUGH COUGH if anyone asks I'd love to be a leader whenever), but this was my last year to go as a student. 

And quite possibly my last youth trip with both of my boys. 

So I made them take a lot of pictures with me. Thankfully, they didn't mind too much.

I should tell them more, but I love these boys and I'm so incredibly thankful to have spent the last how many ever years with them. P3 wouldn't be the same without them.

And they're both gonna do great things at their colleges next year. 

Class of 2015! The only decent smiling picture I think I have of the 3.

This year also was great because First Pres brought home a lot of wins.

You see, there are athletic tournaments every day. Volleyball, tennis, soccer, bocce ball, ultimate frisbee, basketball… Probably missing some but anyways.

And this year we took home some wins!

First place in soccer. 2nd place in tennis. And we tied for first (won) in ultimate frisbee.

Also, please note that I didn't play any of the sports that we won.. But I did cheer them all on!!!

AND I played volleyball, and wasn't half bad. 

Also, I can't go without mentioning my two girls who got me through the week.

Ann Collins and Anna are my champs. 

I just adore both of them.

And I'm so thankful to have friends like them, who will laugh with me at all hours of the day (and night), and cry on the bed with me at 11:30 on the last night because it just hit me that this is it.

I love them so. 

And I'm thankful that they've always let me hang with them since I only have two gross boys (who I love) in my grade. 

They're great, and they're gonna rock it out as seniors this year.

Anyways, so at the end of July we ended up having a clothing drive that actually was really successful.

Feed My Starving Children is an organization that First Pres partners with every year. They're awesome, and they feed malnourished children in third world countries. Please go check out their website. 

So a FMSC event is where a big group of people helps to pack these meals (rice/powder/etc) that goes to these kids. We do one at First Pres. But it involves raising a lot of money.

The youth specifically was asked to help raise money.

And then Taiter had a brilliant idea.

SO we held a clothes drive! We asked for old clothes from ladies and children, we organized and set them out, and then we sold them!

Not only did we meet our goal, we went over it and was able to make a large donation to East Florence Mission. All the leftover clothes went to House of Hope. 

I also made some (6 dozen) cookies with the profits going to EFM. 

They were almost all sold. (: 

We will probably be doing something similar next year. So look out for that in a year!

Oh, and another important thing happened! That Sunday, I headed to Charlotte with Mac to hear Stacey Severance preach an awesome sermon. His first! 

One of Stacey and Lia's gorgeous girls took this pic of the four of us. 

It was so good not only to hear Stacey speak, but also to just hang out with the two of them. 

If I tried to explain how much of an impact these two had on my high school years, I couldn't. 

I love them so so much. 

And I'm excited because Columbia's even closer to Charlotte than Florence.. So Severances, hope you're ready to see a lot more of me!

So that's pretty much a catch up of my summer. It's also been full of a lot of babysitting. I've watched one sweet boy since last June, so for over a year, and finished that yesterday. It's crazy because he was just 7 months old when I started watching him and he has gotten so big! I am really going to miss watching him, and seeing his sweet parents. 

This weekend, like I said earlier, I'm headed to hang out with my Grandmama. She went to USC and I'm sure she'll be sharing plenty of stories from her time there. And I'll just sit on the beach. And enjoy the moment. 

Sunday night is going to be "Senior Night" at Youth Group. There will probably be lots of tears shed (by me). Can I just say that First Pres has been such a big part of my life, and I wouldn't be who I am without them. Specifically P3, or youth group. I love the staff and the students. And the atmosphere. I  will miss them so so much. They have made me, me. And loved and loved on me. 

And I love them.

I head to school in less than a week. I feel prepared. And ready. Kind of.

But I know that no matter what my plans are, God has a purpose for me, and that's what's going to happen.

So I rest in the fact that the Creator of the Universe is in charge of my plans. And goodness knows he's more qualified than I. 

Also, before I forget, those who are worried about me.. be more worried for dad.

Just kidding.

But he's awesome and I can't say that enough.

Really and truly I am so incredibly grateful to him. 

And I love him. And Austin. And I'm going to miss them both so much.

(If anyone sees my house burning down please call the fire department, and then order them some takeout. it'll probably just be them trying to cook dinner).

Love you both, and can't wait for the visits to Columbia.

This will probably be my last post pre-college. 

Take a moment to notice that I changed my header. 

I'm now a college freshmen. 

Life is exciting y'all. 

Wish me luck!